Begonia plant named `Mona`

ABSTRACT

A new and distinctive cultivar of begonia plant named Mona, characterized by its vigorous, compact growth habit; bright &#34;light delicate rose&#34; tepals that maintain color even under high light conditions; floriferous habit, and by its excellent keeping qualities.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a new and distinctive cultivar of begonia plant known botanically as begonia hiemalis Begonia (Fotsch) and known by the cultivar name Mona.

This new cultivar was discovered by me as a mutation of Barbara observed in a group of plants.

Asexual reproduction by stem and/or leaf cuttings has reproduced the unique features of the new cultivar through successive propagations.

The following characteristics distinguish the new begonia from both its parents and other begonias commercially known and used in the floriculture industry:

(1) The new cultivar shows no pubscense on the foliage. The plant form is vigorous and compact.

(2) Compared to Barbara, which has rose flowers, Mona has light and delicate rose flowers and almost completely white buds.

(3) The new cultivar is double with many flowers having 2-3 and sometimes four whorls of tepals in the center of the flower. The flowers seldom appear old.

(4) The new cultivar is considered to be highly floriferous. The stems on which flowering occurs tend to have initiation and development at several nodes at one time.

(5) The keeping qualities of the flowers and the foliage in all seasons allows production and sales efficiencies to be maximized.

(6) The new cultivar tends to be very vigorous so that 10 cm. pot production is best done with shoot cuttings and tip pinching.

(7) Propagation by leaf cuttings is difficult under light and high temperatures in summer months. Stem cuttings can readily be produced in this season.

(8) Mona is very superior with respect to color and keeping qualities of winter crops of hiemalis begonias.

THE DRAWING

The accompanying color photograph illustrates the overall appearance of this cultivar taken as a face view of the plant and showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in a colored reproduction of this type.

DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW VARIETY

The following is a detailed description of my new begonia cultivar based on plants produced under commercial practices in glasshouses in various places in Denmark. Color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, except where general color terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

Parentage: A mutation of the cultivar Barbara.

Propagation:

Type cutting.--Stem cutting.

Time to root.--27-30 days at 21° C. in summer; 25-28 days at 21° C. in winter.

Rooting habit.--Uniform, dentritic, fibrous.

Time for shoot development of leaf cuttings.--70-85 days to develop adventitious shoots 5-6 cm. (1.96-2.37 inches) long from stick date.

THE PLANT

Form: Low bush type, self-branching, herbaceous.

Habit of growth: Generally rapid, vigorous with strong stems, strong peduncles and strong pedicels.

Foliage: Leaves simple, alternate, borne on vigorous petioles, firm.

(1) Size.--Average leaf at maturity from 10-12 cm. (3.95-4.75 inches) long. Leaves may be larger or smaller depending on density of leaf canopy.

(2) Shape.--Ovate, slightly concave.

(3) Texture.--Leaf is firm, top glabrous, underside rugose.

(4) Margin.--Crenate.

(5) Color.--Young foliage top side; green 137 D. under side; yellow-green 146 D. Mature foliage top side; yellow-green 147 A to green 139. under side; yellow-green 147 C to 148 A.

(6) Veination.--Palmate.

THE FLOWER

Flowering habits: Flowering in racemes, with several clusters arising from the stem nodes at the same time giving a highly floriferous appearance. Flowering is continuous for a long period of time.

Natural flowering season: Flowering occurs naturally with shortened days lengths beginning mid-September and continuing through May. Reducing day length in summer speeds up flower initiation.

Flower bud: Flat, round, almost white, progressively deepening in color until tepals begin to open.

Flowers borne: On vigorous peduncles and pedicles in a raceme. The extra doubleness of the flowers causes a pendulous appearance because of the weight of the flowers.

Quantity: Very floriferous, often having 18-20 flowers per main stem in flowering stage at one time.

Tepals:

(1) Shape.--Nearly circular.

(2) Color.--Top side in winter when opening: RHS 36 A. under side: RHS 36 D.

(3) Number.--16-32.

(4) Size.--4 Basal from 25-30 mm (1.0-1.2 inch), interior tepals 10-20 mm (0.4-0.75 inch).

(5) Flower size.--4-7 cm (1.5-2.75 inches).

Reproductive organs:

Stamens.--Sterile triploid hybrid.

Disease resistance: No particular increase in resistance to disease observed to date. 

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Begonia Cultivar named Mona, as shown and described, and particularly characterized by its vigorous, compact growth habit; bright "light delicate rose" tepals that maintain color even under high light conditions; floriferous habit; and by its excellent keeping qualities. 